The Indian government has ordered NDTV India to be taken off air for a day on November 9, after it was found guilty of transmitting sensitive information during a militant attack on a key airbase, reports said on Thursday.
Reacting to the development, NDTV issued a strongly worded statement saying ‘it is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner’ and hinted at challenging it.
According to local media, the announcement was made by the ministry of information and broadcasting after an inter-ministerial committee concluded that the channel had revealed sensitive details of the Pathankot airbase.
The statement added: ‘Every channel and newspaper had similar coverage. In fact, NDTV’s coverage was particularly balanced. After the dark days of the emergency when the press was fettered, it is extraordinary that NDTV is being proceeded against in this manner’.
Indian authorities also accused the broadcaster of revealing information about how the army was going to take down the militants holed up in the facility and disclosing details of a cache of arms stockpiled at the airbase, warplanes, and fuel tanks.
In September, the Indian defence ministry asked media to re-verify news content relating to the Indian army, after the government faced humiliation for its claims regarding Uri attack in Occupied Kashmir.
According to Hindustan Times, there have been over two dozen examples of TV channels being taken off air by the authorities in India.
Reacting to the development, NDTV issued a strongly worded statement saying ‘it is shocking that NDTV has been singled out in this manner’ and hinted at challenging it.